Legal challenge to abortion drug mandate draws allies

Last updated on: May 30, 2014 at 7:03 am by CNA Daily News

Legal challenge to abortion drug mandate draws allies 2014-05-30T07:03:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., May 30, 2014 / 01:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Foes of federal rules requiring free insurance coverage of abortion-causing drugs and devices have filed legal briefs in support of a lawsuit representing dozens of Southern Baptist and other Christian organizations.

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr. and other Southern Baptist leaders said in an amicus brief that the HHS mandate “imposes a substantial burden” on the free exercise of religion.

It forces Southern Baptist individuals or ministries into “an impossible choice” requiring them “to either violate conscience or the law,” the brief states.

Their amicus brief explained that Southern Baptists and other Christians “cannot distribute abortion-inducing drugs and devices either directly or indirectly” without violating their faith.

The Department of Health and Human Services mandate requires most U.S. employers to provide insurance coverage for some abortion drugs, sterilization and contraception. Many Christian organizations do not qualify for the narrow exemption from the mandate, despite their religious and moral objections to providing the coverage.

Other briefs were filed or supported by the National Association of Evangelicals, Prison Fellowship, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Christian Medical Association, the Christian Legal Society, the American Center for Law and Justice, Concerned Women for America, Americans United for Life, and Women Speak for Themselves.

They are backing a religious freedom class action lawsuit filed on behalf of GuideStone Financial Services, the benefits arm of the Southern Baptist Convention; the Georgia-based Truett-McConnell College; and Reaching Souls International, an Oklahoma-based Christian ministry that cares for orphans in Africa and trains pastors in Africa, India, and Cuba.

The lawsuit challenges the HHS mandate requiring employers to provide insurance coverage for drugs that can cause abortions; the suit represents over 180 ministries.

“The government wants to force small non-profit ministries like Reaching Souls and Truett-McConnell to change their health plan in a way that violates their consciences—or pay crushing penalties,” Adèle Keim, legal counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, said May 28.

“These ministries – and hundreds others like them – have chosen GuideStone because they want health benefits that reflect their deeply-held Christian beliefs,” said Keim, who is also counsel for GuideStone.

The lawsuit won a preliminary injunction against the mandate in December 2013. The federal government has appealed the case to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

While some houses of worship and religious nonprofits have gained an exemption or accommodation from the mandate, for-profit businesses are still required to pay for all objectionable products and procedures.

The Supreme Court is expected to issue an important religious freedom ruling in late June involving Hobby Lobby, a craft store company owned by a Christian family with objections to providing abortion-causing drugs.

Many Catholic organizations, including dioceses, religious orders, and colleges, have filed suits against the mandate. They additionally object to mandatory coverage of contraception and sterilization. In total, more than 90 suits have been filed over the mandate, representing more than 300 plaintiffs.

Previous Post

May 29, 2014

US bishop: Broken laws – not immigrants – must change

Next Post

May 30, 2014 Filipinos from Holy Land voice excitement for Pope's visit

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, making them blossom like this flower and fragrant like this tree. What plant and tree are mentioned?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Lebanon Cedar and Lilies Lotus and palm Iris and cypress Rose and olive